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The grass and the grain began to sprout with tenfold vigor and luxuriance；
to make up for the dreary months that had been wasted in barrenness。 The
starved cattle immediately set to work grazing； after their long fast； and ate
enormously； all day； and got up at midnight to eat more。
But I can assure you it was a busy time of year with the farmers； when
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they found the summer coming upon them with such a rush。 Nor must I
forget to say； that all the birds in the whole world hopped about upon the
newly…blossoming trees； and sang together； in a prodigious ecstasy of joy。
Mother Ceres had returned to her deserted home； and was sitting
disconsolately on the doorstep； with her torch burning in her hand。 She
had been idly watching the flame for some moments past； when； all at
once； it flickered and went out。
〃What does this mean？〃 thought she。 〃It was an enchanted torch； and
should have kept burning till my child came back。〃
Lifting her eyes； she was surprised to see a sudden verdure flashing
over the brown and barren fields； exactly as you may have observed a
golden hue gleaming far and wide across the landscape； from the just risen
sun。
〃Does the earth disobey me？〃 xclaimed Mother Ceres； indignantly。
〃Does it presume to be green； when I have bidden it be barren； until my
daughter shall be restored to my arms？〃
〃Then open your arms； dear mother；〃 cried a well…known voice； 〃and
take your little daughter into them。〃
And Proserpina came running； and flung herself upon her mother's
bosom。 Their mutual transport is not to be described。 The grief of their
separation had caused both of them to shed a great many tears； and now
they shed a great many more； because their joy could not so well express
itself in any other way。
When their hearts had grown a little more quiet； Mother Ceres looked
anxiously at Proserpina。
〃My child；〃 said she； 〃did you taste any food while you were in King
Pluto's palace？〃
〃Dearest mother；〃 exclaimed Proserpina； 〃I will tell you the whole
truth。 Until this very morning； not a morsel of food had passed my lips。
But to…day； they brought me a pomegranate （a very dry one it was； and all
shriveled up； till there was little left of it but seeds and skin）； and having
seen no fruit for so long a time； and being faint with hunger； I was tempted
just to bite it。 The instant I tasted it； King Pluto and Quicksilver came into
the room。 I had not swallowed a morsel； butdear mother； I hope it was no
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harmbut six of the pomegranate seeds； I am afraid； remained in my
mouth。〃
〃Ah； unfortunate child； and miserable me！〃 exclaimed Ceres。 〃For
each of those six pomegranate seeds you must spend one month of every
year in King Pluto's palace。 You are but half restored to your mother。 Only
six months with me； and six with that good…for…nothing King of
Darkness！〃
〃Do not speak so harshly of poor King Pluto；〃 said Prosperina； kissing
her mother。 〃He has some very good qualities； and I really think I can bear
to spend six months in his palace； if he will only let me spend the other six
with you。 He certainly did very wrong to carry me off； but then； as he says；
it was but a dismal sort of life for him； to live in that great gloomy place；
all alone； and it has made a wonderful change in his spirits to have a little
girl to run up stairs and down。 There is some comfort in making him so
happy； and so； upon the whole； dearest mother； let us be thankful that he is
not to keep me the whole year round。〃
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE。
When Jason； the son of the dethroned King of Iolchos； was a little boy；
he was sent away from his parents； and placed under the queerest
schoolmaster that ever you heard of。 This learned person was one of the
people； or quadrupeds； called Centaurs。 He lived in a cavern； and had the
body and legs of a white horse； with the head and shoulders of a man。 His
name was Chiron； and； in spite of his odd appearance； he was a very
excellent teacher； and had several scholars； who afterwards did him credit
by making a great figure in the world。 The famous Hercules was one； and
so was Achilles； and Philoctetes likewise； and Aesculapius； who acquired
immense repute as a doctor。 The good Chiron taught his pupils how to
play upon the harp； and how to cure diseases； and how to use the sword
and shield； together with various other branches of education； in which the
lads of those days used to be instructed； instead of writing and arithmetic。
I have sometimes suspected that Master Chiron was not really very
different from other people； but that； being a kind…hearted and merry old
fellow； he was in the habit of making believe that he was a horse； and
scrambling about the schoolroom on all fours； and letting the little boys
ride upon his back。 And so； when his scholars had grown up； and grown
old； and were trotting their grandchildren on their knees； they told them
about the sports of their school days； and these young folks took the idea
that their grandfathers had been taught their letters by a Centaur； half man
and half horse。 Little children； not quite understanding what is said to
them； often get such absurd notions into their heads； you know。
Be that as it may； it has always been told for a fact （and always will be
told； as long as the world lasts）； that Chiron； with the head of a
schoolmaster； had the body and legs of a horse。 Just imagine the grave old
gentleman clattering and stamping into the schoolroom on his four hoofs；
perhaps treading on some little fellow's toes； flourishing his switch tail
instead of a rod； and； now and then； trotting out of doors to eat a mouthful
of grass！ I wonder what the blacksmith charged him for a set of iron
shoes？
So Jason dwelt in the cave； with this four…footed Chiron； from the time
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that he was an infant； only a few months old； until he had grown to the full
height of a man。 He became a very good harper； I suppose； and skilful in
the use of weapons； and tolerably acquainted with herbs and other doctor's
stuff； and； above all； an admirable horseman； for； in teaching young people
to ride； the good Chiron must have been without a rival among
schoolmasters。 At length； being now a tall and athletic youth； Jason
resolved to seek his fortune in the world； without asking Chiron's advice；
or telling him anything about the matter。 This was very unwise； to be sure；
and I hope none of you； my little hearers； will ever follow Jason's
example。
But； you are to understand； he had heard how that he himself was a
prince royal； and how his father； King Jason； had been deprived of the
kingdom of Iolchos by a certain Pelias； who would also have killed Jason；
had he not been hidden in the Centaur's cave。 And； being come to the
strength of a man； Jason determined to set all this business to rights； and to
punish the wicked Pelias for wronging his dear father； and to cast him
down from the throne； and seat himself there instead。
With this intention； he took a spear in each hand； and threw a leopard's
skin over his shoulders； to keep off the rain； and set forth on his travels；
with his long yellow ringlets waving in the wind。 The part of his dress on
which he most prided himself was a pair of sandals； that had been his
father's。 They were handsomely embroidered； and were tied upon his feet
with strings of gold。 But his whole attire was such as people did not very
often see； and as he passed along； the women and children ran to the doors
and windows； wondering whither this beautiful youth was journeying；
with his leopard's skin and his golden…tied sandals； and what heroic deeds